Realization of Self

Jung made significant contributions to knowledge of areas such as human

development and personality assessment. In terms of human development,

Jung emphasized that personality development occurs throughout the life

of the person. This was critical in that Freud’s theory, the dominant theory

at that time, emphasized the first five years of life in examining personality

development. The overall goal of the person in Jung’s approach to development

is the realization of the self, which is a long and difficult process. Unlike

Freud, Jung was particularly interested in development during the

adulthood years. He emphasized the changes that occur beginning at the

age of thirty-five or forty. He believed that this was often a time of crisis in the

life of the person. This notion of a midlife crisis (which Jung experienced

himself) has continued to be the source of significant theoretical and empirical

claims.

Jung believed that the concept of a crisis during middle age was necessary

and beneficial. Often, a person has achieved a certain level of material success

and needs to find new meaning in life. This meaning can be realized by

shifting from the material and physical concerns of youth to a more spiritual

and philosophical view of life. The person seeks gradually to abandon the

emphasis on the conscious ego which is dominant in youth. A greater balance

between the unconscious and conscious is pursued. If this is successfully

achieved, the person can reach a state of positive psychological health

that Jung labels individuation. Perhaps the key to the midlife years in Jung’s

theory is that these are the years in which the person is attempting to discover

the true meaning of life. Finally, Jung stated that religion can play an

important role in life during the midlife and old-age years. During the

midlife years, a sense of spirituality rather than materialism is important in

personality development; looking at the possibility of life after death can be

positive for the older adult.